Benjen

One of Benjen's very first memories was his father lifting him up so he could look at a map of Westeros, asking all his siblings what they would want to rule.

Brandon had of course answered 'The North!' and everyone knew that was true because he was Father's heir. But Ned had been unsure and despite Brandon ribbing him that he should go 'South and find some soft Southerners to take over and have fun bullying' Ned had finally said Moat Cailin because it had been in disrepair and needed to be brought up to snuff. Lyanna had, of course, proclaimed she wished to rule nothing. All she wanted was to be free. To hunt wild game and race her horse and not be shackled to a single place.

As for Benjen he'd just stuck his hand in his mouth and sucked on it, pretending not for the first time that he was too little to understand the question.

When he had met Prince Rhaegar and helped Lyanna escape so she might wed her silver prince the Heir to the Iron Throne had declared that soon things would be different. That soon he would rule and he would not forget what Benjen had done. There would be many kingdoms in Westeros that would see changes and that Benjen only had to name a land and he would rule it. Was he bookish? Then Oldtown would be his, with the Citadel commanded to allow him to read to his heart's content. Did he love the sea? All of the Iron islands then, so he might be a pirate prince serving his King. Perhaps he wished to know something more than the flat lands of the North? Then The Vale, for Jon Arryn was old and had no heirs though they would need to speak with Ned for Rhaegar was considering giving him those lands…

Benjen had merely smile and bowed.

When Ned had returned from the Rebellion he had declared to Benjen that he could take any lands he wanted in the North, for there were many that needed a lord. The Moat that he had chosen for himself, when he'd been so young? Benjen's with a word and he would provide him with all the coin he needed to create the greatest fortress in all of the North, so that no Southern Army would ever be able to march upon their hands. Settlements on the West or the East, where he could build a Navy to protect them? Something close to Winterfell so he could be the first there when Ned called his banners?

Benjen merely stated that he had already made a promise.

When he arrived at the Wall everyone asked him when he would declare for the position of Lord Commander. He was of the North, which was far better than the Southern fools that were coming to take the Black because they refused to bend the knee. He was already well skilled, breezing through the training that normally took months within a few weeks. Everyone knew that he would be perfect to be the Lord Commander.

Benjen… had sighed in utter relief when the Old Bear had shown up at the Wall and all but begged him to become the Lord Commander.

The truth of it was that his time running Winterfell while his family had been South of the Neck had been the worst time of his life. He still had nightmares of being forced to sit in his father's chair while a never ending stream of people came to him, demanding he listen to their boring complaints. Quite frankly Benjen wasn't built to command… he was built to DO. When Ned sent him letters concerning how Bran was always climbing the walls of Winterfell Benjen had merely responded that he'd chosen the wrong brother to name his son after. Bran, like him, had wanted to serve, not lead. And he also couldn't sit still. He hated being confined to a single place, which was why Benjen had feared for him so when he'd learned of his accident…

But the point was Benjen HATED being in command.

'Jeor hates me. That's the only answer,' Benjen thought miserably as he did all he could to try and keep control of the group he found himself surrounded by.

"You want me to believe that this prancing fucker once led the Free Folk?" Tormund declared, looking eye to eye (which was impressive, Benjen had to admit) with the new arrival. "Just look at his fucking hair!"

Thor, as the man that had FALLEN FROM THE FUCKING SKY, brushed his hand along his long locks. "I have considered getting it cut," he admitted. "You look like someone who spends many hours grooming themselves… perhaps you'd like to assist?"

Tormund blinked at that before throwing back his head and laughing, his anger and annoyance gone in an instant. He slapped Thor across the back but the caped man didn't even budge… and from the way Tormund winced it was clear that the gesture had hurt him far more than it had Thor. "I like you! Not enough to bend the fucking knee too… but I'm sure my sister would be willing to bend all sorts of ways!"

That caused Rayne to bristle, looking up from the cooking fire she had been tending with Dolorous Edd. "The fuck did you just say?"

"Come now!" Tormund declared. "Think of the strong sons and daughters this one will give you!"

"I am married," Thor pointed out.

"He's married," Rayne declared. She glanced over at Edd. "He's married."

"I have been told," Edd replied with a cheerful smile.

Tormund though crinkled his nose. "And what the fuck does that have to do with anything? He can still get you with child! More than one! Flying wolves, Rayne! Giant flying wolf babies!"

"We don't know if my gift would pass on to them," Rayne pointed out. "Wargs don't always breed true."

"Bah, course they would! They would be my nieces and nephews!" He looked over at Thor. "There is no way whatever weak little flower you are married to can please you as my sister would!"

"Jane would blow her up," Thor replied offhandedly, moving to sit down next to the fire.

Tormund huffed. "Just like some Southern flower to use cheap ways to fight. Fire? Would she even bother to pull back on the bowstring herself?"

"There would be no need for bows," Thor stated. "Jane is the future Queen of Asgard and through her father become a Mistress of Magic. She could snap her fingers and cause your sister to combust."

Tormund blinked.

"Is this pork? It looks like pork." Thor looked at the cooking pot that the OTHER guests had set up, poking at a bit of meat within with a knife.

"It is!" Toad said cheerfully before Tormund suddenly grabbed Thor and hauled him to his feet. "I figured tonight should be a special meal, considering that it isn't often we have men fall out of the sky."

"…but it does happen?" Ygritte said slowly, still trying her hardest to look at Thor without making it obvious she was looking at Thor. It honestly was getting on Benjen's nerves because she had no right to act like she had led a normal life when she was now a fucking Other.

Sabertooth grunted. "More than you'd think."

"-dishonor my sister like that!" Tormund declared, Benjen catching the tail end of his rant.

Thor merely shrugged. "I am only stating the facts."

"You will take her behind that tent and fuck her now for that insult!"

Rayne shot her brother a dark look. "Maybe you should take Thor behind the tent and fuck him!"

"Language, please!" Steve begged.

Tormund considered Thor for a moment before he threw a punch at the man's face. Thor's head moved but Benjen got the sense it was more to prevent Tormund from breaking his hand than anything else.

"Ah! A good rumble before a meal!" Thor unclipped his cape, letting it fall to the ground. "I have missed you, my Free Folk."

Tormund didn't even get a chance to declare he wasn't his before Thor tackled him, the two crashing out of the light of the fire.

"Should… should we do something about that?" Pepper Stark asked as she took a seat next to Ygritte, not at all disturbed by the woman having several inches on her or her otherworldly looks.

"Nah," Ygritte said with a shrug. "That's just how we Free Folk test one another." She looked Pepper up and down, a smile slowly growing on her lips.

"I wouldn't even think about it," Toad commented.

"Why not?" Ygritte said with a flint smirk. "'Fraid I might break her?"

"More that I've seen her cleave a melon in two from 20 paces away with a battle axe," Toad said with a shudder. Ygritte blinked only to freeze up when she realized that while she had been talking to Toad Pepper had somehow gotten her hands on a small one-handed ax and had brought it to her throat.

Pepper smiled.

Ygritte… smiled.

"You ever paint walls?" Ygritte asked.

"No, never," Pepper replied even as Benjen groaned and pressed the heels of his hands into his eye sockets.

"Terrified they are going to kill each other?" his cousin asked as he sat down next to him, stretching out his long legs before him.

"Terrified they are bonding," Benjen muttered as he finally lifted his head up to see Ygritte introducing Pepper to Rayne. "How are you Tony?"

"Oh, doing well. Very boring life, not much to tell… you?"

"Dreadfully dull," Benjen muttered.

Tony smirked at that. "See, that's why I always thought you and Ned got swapped. He seems far better suited for the Wall and you to rule."

"Please don't," Benjen said cringing at the thought.

Tony, to his credit, doesn't press and instead stated, "Jon was doing well, last I saw him."

"I'm glad he went with you," Benjen stated. "I would have loved to have him with me but…"

"But you are First Ranger and you couldn't afford to give him what he needed… or you wanted."

Benjen didn't look over at Tony. "I feared the first time I would have had to tell him no. He would have wanted to follow me, to go on a ranging… and I would have had to tell him no. Because he couldn't have afforded for anyone to think he was getting special treatment."

"So like Ned you would have been overly harsh and allowed him to be treated like dirt under your shoe."

He whipped his head towards Tony but his cousin merely shot him a look, daring him to disagree.

Benjen couldn't.

Because he was right.

"She'll hate me for it," Benjen said softly. "Ned is going to get the worst of it… but when I see Lyanna-"

"Don't," Tony said, cutting him off. "Lyanna never knew her nephew and while I'm sure she would have spoiled the boy rotten it does no good to discuss such things." Benjen frowned at that; Ned had sent him a coded letter, letting him know that Tony knew the truth. Why was he- "Do you know who I'm stuck with?"

"I had assumed they were connected to Tywin Lannister," Benjen stated, nodding towards Sabertooth. "He looks like a good replacement for The Mountain."

"Not even close," Tony said, dropping his voice to such a whisper that it was near impossible for Benjen to hear it. "They are the Brotherhood of the Blackfyres."

"The Black-" Benjen's eyes went wide with terror. "Tony!"

"It isn't by choice!" Tony hissed back. "They found me after I had been attacked and I'm an 'honored guest'. Pepper being a Blackfyre Sympathizer-" Which, Benjen dimly realized, explained even more why Catelyn had been loathed to have Tony and his wife visit Winterfell, "-has given me a bit more leeway than they might normally have offered me but the fact remains that I am not exactly free."

"I might be able to help out with that." He nodded towards his group.

"Yeah, thanks, but I don't feel like getting your people killed."

"We can hold our own."

"Not against these people."

Benjen though shot him a level stare. "Tony… trust me… my group? We can handle what the Blackfyres would throw at us."

But Tony just smiled a patronizing little grin, like a parent who had been told by their 5 year old that they were old enough to go to the market all by themselves. "I'm sure you've had some fun little adventures away from the Wall but these guys are a cut above that."

Benjen considered his cousin for a long moment. "What do you want to wager?"

"Pardon?"

"That you have had a more wild life than I have. What's the wager?"

"Well, considering the Night's Watch makes you give up everything-"

"No it doesn't."

"-I guess I'll be fair to you and just take eternal bragging rights."

Benjen smirked. "I'll take a Valyrian Steel Sword."

Tony let out a whistle. "Oh! Someone wants to play, don't they? Alright then… let's do this." Tony rolled his neck back and forth like he was getting ready to wrestle with him, wiggling his shoulders to loosen them up. "So I was contacted by Gerion Lannister to go talk to Daenerys Targaryen. And before you ask yes, he is still alive and he's running around with an eye patch and eating all my damn food. So I travel across the Narrow Sea, thankfully having an excuse to do so thanks to Tywin Lannister who is apparently dead but I still am having trouble believing he isn't, like, a brain in a jar controlling all this still, and get attacked by a cult and my ship sinks. I end up washing up on shore where I am dragged out of the surface by Arya."

"Arya," Benjen said. He looked at Tony, waiting for the joke. "Ned's Arya?"

"In the flesh… and a lot more of it because the Blackfyres… they have this ritual. According to Arya its simple but I don't believe that, think she didn't know about the final ingredient. Doesn't matter, point is that Little Arya, the one we saw at the Feast with Robert and-"

Tony suddenly paused.

"Gods," he whispered and it was a sign how utterly struck he was that he didn't add his usual blasphemy to the utterance, "has it only been a year or so? Feels like… a lifetime."

"Several lifetimes," Benjen admitted.

Tony shook his head, trying at adapt some humor again but finding himself unable to… not fully. "So the ritual… it gives them powers. Sabertooth is strong and can heal and has incredible senses. Toad can leap about and as a super long tongue. The head of the Blackfyres… well, I'll get to him in a minute. But Arya? She can pass through walls." He thrust his hand out. "Wooosh. Except the cost of the ritual was her childhood. She's… ten and eight, maybe? Perhaps a touch older. Point is she's a little girl in a grown woman's body. Acts like it too but I can tell for many that the allure." He waved his hand about. "Don't worry, she has good people protecting her, even if they are Blackfyres. Point is I get captured by them because let's be clear it was a capture and one thing leads to another and I'm in Braavos dealing with the cult-"

"We heard about that, when we passed through," Benjen said. "Saw the wooden soldiers."

"Sentinels," Tony said, move twitching. "Horrible name, I know. I would have called them…" Tony lapsed into silence because he was famous for being horrible at naming things. "Anyway… when we get done dealing with the cult leader who brought them to life, along with the men and women he gave the power of… well, to burn the world, I suppose… we went here. Met you. Saw a man fall from the sky." He looked at the fire, letting its light glow upon his face. "Oh… and I'm the Iron Man."

Benjen was quiet for a long moment.

"I heard rumor that people think you are the Iron Man… nice try, attempting to take that from me. But… its all me. All me." Benjen had a feeling if he'd had a goblet of wine Tony would have taken that moment to take a dramatic sip. "So… mind trying to top that?"

"Why does Gerion Lannister want you to talk to Daenerys Targaryen?" Benjen asked.

"Not even going to try? You disappoint me."

"Tony," Benjen said.

His cousin scoffed. "He's convinced the Others have returned."

"I know." Tony glanced at him and Benjen nodded towards Steve. "He's one of them."

"…heh. Yeah, right."

"I'm serious."

"Uh huh."

"Other."

Tony chuckled but the sound finally faded away, leaving only the distant sound of Thor and Tormund trading punches, both laughing rather than bellowing. He turned his head slowly towards Benjen and the Ranger found that now the tables had turned and it was he who wished he had a nice tall drink to sip in victory.

"…seriously?"

"They call him The Traitor. The first Other to stand against Thanos, the Mad Titan." Benjen paused, allowing Tony to absorb that. "His name is Steve Rogers and his father was Lann Ragers… otherwise known as Lann the Clever."

Tony blinked at that, glancing over at Steve who was chatting with Sam. "I thought he looked vaguely like Jaime…"

"He's not that thrilled with the Lannisters at the moment so I wouldn't bring it up to him. I think he plans to deal with them and how they've acted himself."

"Right, of course," Tony said mutely. "And the… I'm guessing female Other?"

"Ygritte. A wilding. The Red Skull tried to turn her into his lover but we accidently reversed the ritual and she's now another Other to fight against them." He paused, allowing a smile to slowly tug at the right side of his mouth. "And yes… we have a ritual too, Tony."

"Well… now you are just taking away all my fun," he muttered. But there was none of his usual humor in his words; for once Tony seemed as dour as Ned. "Its true though? The Others?"

"Steve," Benjen called out, nodding his head towards his friend. And Steve was his friend, as startling as that was to consider. They should have been enemies a thousand times over. Living Man and Other. Stark and Lannister. North and South. And yet there they were, not merely allies but friends.

The Lord Command of the Knight of the Dawn quietly rose, nodding politely to Sam before walking over. More surprising was that, with a simple nod of his head, he was able to get Thor to stop fighting with Tormund, the large wildling laughing and saying he had been 'going easy' on the figure that had fallen from the sky, and come over to join them.

"Benjen… Br-Tony."

Tony made a face at that. "You did that before… tried to call me Bran. Why?"

Thor though was the one that answered. "Why, because it is like looking into a mirror! Loyal Bran, born again… unless I also cursed you with immortality and not just with the inability to enjoy fermented drink."

"You look just like our friend Bran," Steve said, clearly used to needing to translate for Thor.

"Bran," Tony said. "As in… the Builder?"

"So I'm told is his name nowadays," Steve said simply. "When I knew him he was merely King Bran Stark."

"Right," Tony sad slowly. "Because you are an Other and you-" he pointed at Thor, "-are the King Beyond The Wall."

"No," Thor said with a laugh. "That would be utterly foolish!"

"…right."

Thor nodded happily, leaning over Benjen and making him realize just how much larger the other man was when compared to himself. He made Robert look like a babe. "There was no Wall when I was first crowned King so how could I be King 'Beyond the Wall' when there was none? Can you be the king of an island that doesn't exist?" He let out a boisterous chuckle. "Besides, you act as if I am their king now! I have been gone for thousands of years, so I can no longer be their king. I surrendered my oak crown and let them decide upon their king, as was and I assume remains, their method."

"It is," Benjen found himself saying. "They selected a man, Mance Rayder. A former member of the Night's Watch. He is the new King of the Free Folk."

Thor stared at him for a moment. "Aye, I will need to speak of this King Mance with my little friend Tormund and his sister. Learn if he truly is worthy. While I am no longer their king I still care for them and would not see them harmed."

"And you've been… where, these last few thousand years?" Tony asked slowly.

"In Asgard," Thor stated.

"…that explains noting. So Steve, you also in Asgard?"

"No," he replied, "I was frozen for thousands of years after I had failed to defeat Thanos once and for all."

"Frozen. Right. Frozen." Tony shook his head. "Also, and I mean no offense by this but also kind of do, this is all your fault for fucking things up."

"Tony!" Benjen snapped.

"I'm just saying you had one job-"

Thor grabbed Tony by the throat and lifted him into the air.

"You dare mock him?" Thor hissed.

Steve at once leapt to his feet, grabbing Thor's arm. He saw Sabertooth tense, ready to leap into battle, while Pepper was screaming for Tony and being held back by Toad. Ygritte glanced at Steve, clearly looking to him for guidance, while Rayne's eyes flashed and her body began to ripple as she prepared to change.

"Oh my nan was right," Edd murmured, "I am going to die caught between a bunch of immortals feuding. If only mum hadn't said, "Come now, its Edd's 4th nameday, save that talk for tomorrow!" then I might have learned just which one of you was going to accidently rip my cock off and leave me bleeding out on the ground."

It was, of them all, Sabertooth who slowly turned to Edd and, with wide eyes, asked, "What the fuck?

"That's enough," Steve said softly.

"We lost thousands to that monster. Tens of Thousands. And I don't mean to his wights or his White Council or the Court. I mean to him. Just… him. It was like he could snap his fingers and wipe out half a battalion. If Steve hadn't fought tooth and nail to protect every single person he could not a single one of you alive right now would be sitting around this fire. You wouldn't even exist because your ancestors would have been reduced to rotting corpses and you DARE mock what he sacrificed so you can sit here with your fancy little clothes and arrogant smiles and judge him?"

Tony gurgled, clawing at the man's hand. "I… seem… to have hit… a sore spot?"

"Aye," Thor said, leaning in close before throwing Tony down onto the ground. "You may look like him, little man, but you are not Bran. He would know not to mock things he doesn't understand." With that Thor began to walk away.

Tony rubbed his throat. "Yeah… yeah, run off."

"Tony!" Benjen hissed even as Thor stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

"Thee have something more to say to me, Stark?"

"Actually… yeah… yeah I think I do," Tony said, getting to his feet. "You… you can judge me all you want. Say I don't know what its like. You're right, I don't. But guess what, pal? I've been hearing that song and dance my entire life. Boorish bastards who claim that the world was so much better in their day. That people were noble and kind and wonderful and everything was so wondrous back then and look at us now. But we both know the truth, don't we? That's a lie wrapped in bullshit and dipped in 'fuck you!'.

"The past wasn't shiny and bright and wonderful like you love to make it out to be. People talk of there not being true knights any more but there were never true knights… we just took the monsters of the past and made them into heroes while wiping away all their negative traits. Ser Duncan? The Dragonknight? They were just as vile and wicked as you and me and everyone else but that doesn't make for a good story, does it? Better to have them be perfect ideals so you can look down your nose on everyone else. But guess what, bucko? People live longer now. They are able to do more. Survive worse. Build better. So take your grand proclamations about how you and your blue buddy are the best thing every and shove them up your ass. Because I'm not interested, dad, in what you have to say because I know it is a lie. Just something to make yourself feel better."

Thor stared at Tony.

Tony stared back.

"…dad?" Steve finally said.

That caused Tony to blink for several seconds before he spun on his heels. "Toad, Sabertooth. Magneto is probably wondering where we are, right? Benjen, I owe you a fucking sword."

"Well, I don't-okay," Toad said, shrugging when Tony left Benjen's camp, the rest of his group getting up and following after. But if Tony thought that Benjen was going to follow after him he was mistaken. He knew from his time with Brandon, with Ned, and ESPECIALLY with Lyanna that when the wolf's blood ran hot it was better to just let the person walk off and try and cool it down than to risk getting your head bit off.

"The arrogance of that man," Thor muttered to himself more than to anyone else.

"But I imagine you see Bran in him now," Steve said softly.

"Aye," Thor admitted before adding, "but only the worst of him."

"I'm sure he isn't always like that," Steve said, looking to Benjen.

"Tony… has had it rough recently, from the sounds of it," Benjen said, trying to be diplomatic about it. "He isn't a free man and that can cause-"

Thor held up his hand. "I know the rage a slave can feel, Benjen Stark." But Thor still slid his eyes towards the direction Tony had left in. "But it does not excuse his actions and deeds. Your ancestor would be most displeased."

"I don't know about that," Steve said again. "Bran and you used to fight all the time."

"Yes… fight being the key word," Thor rumbled. "I do not see that one ever going into battle."

Benjen had to admit they were right on that count. Tony made weapons… he didn't use them. The few times he'd seen Tony actually swing a sword around he'd left the audience watching terrified for his life, theirs, and interestingly enough for people not even there. He was that bad at it.

'Yet he claims to be the Iron Man…' his mind whispered.

Steve pushed Thor to sit down. "Let's not talk about Tony. I want to know why you are here, Thor." Benjen had to admit he was curious as well; he had done all he could to hold his tongue, seeing that the man clearly had not arrived outside of Meereen because he simply desired a peaceful visit.

The blond warrior let out a sigh at that, settling once more on crate that had become his seat by the fire. Tormund brought him over a bottle of wine that they'd gotten just before arriving in Meereen and Thor nodded in thanks at that, yanking the cork out with his teeth.

"Much has happened since we last saw each other, Steve," Thor said, somehow managing to make Steve's name sound glorious with just his inflection. "I was forced to return to Asgard only a few years after you disappeared and Thanos was driven back… I begged the Allfather to allow me to remain in what is now called Westeros so I might look for you but it was never to be. The next time I was sent to live amongst the Midgardians I was sent to Essos, born amongst the Dothraki who refuse to cross the sea. Then I was born in the Summer Isles-"

"You were in the Summer Isles?" Sam asked.

Thor chuckled at that. "Aye, good Sam. When an Asgardian is sent on a pilgrimage all about them changes, so they blend in with Midgard. I once possessed the darkened skin and ebony locks known in your lands. I fought with King Isolosono and his-"

"You were part of the Thunderers?"

"Part of?" Thor laughed. "I named them!"

Sam leaned back in utter shock. Benjen didn't blame him… he had been just as startled, after all, realizing that he was talking to someone that the Maesters would consider to be living history.

"So how did ya end up here?" Ygritte demanded. "Cause ya don't look like a baby to me."

"No, lovely Ygritte, I am no babe. And this is not a pilgrimage." Thor's features grew stormy at that, shoulders hunched and body tense. "I left Asgard to come to Westeros to seek out my brother."

"Loki," Steve said. "Is he okay?"

"Aye. More than fine. Married and happy," Thor smiled. "His daughter… she is a treasure…" The way Thor was smiling at Benjen sharing a look with Tormund, the large Free Folk man just shrugging and motioning with his eyes for Benjen to ask the question if it was truly irking him. But Benjen stayed silent, figuring that was the safer option after how Thor had reaction to Tony. "We all returned, along with Loki's family and young Shireen-"

"Shireen," Benjen spoke up. "Shireen Baratheon?"

"Shireen Stannisdotter now," Thor replied. "Jane and I raised her after the death of her mother and father." He shook his head. "But that is not what matters. Except… I suppose… it is." He let out a dry huffing laugh at that. "Shireen, upon learning the Others were rising again, journeyed to Westeros to protect her people."

"You let a little girl go fight a war?" Edd asked. "I see Asgardians take after my parents when it comes to child rearing."

Rayne frowned. "I was 8 when I killed my first man."

Ygritte opened her mouth only for Steve to shake his head. "Whatever you are going to say, make it the truth."

"Was gonna be!"

"You'd have us believe you killed a man in the womb," Steve teased and Ygritte stared at him before shrugging in acceptance.

Thor continued on. "What she reported was… troubling. The Others were adapting, evolving their tactics. Where before they used their thralls as merely foolish and misled fodder to infiltrate our ranks now they are seeking to make them stronger. To alter them so that they are near the level of an Other… without fear they might rebel."

"We know," Steve said softly. "They got to a member of the Free Folk, the Lord of Bones. And…" he swallowed. "They have Bucky."

"No," Thor whispered in utter regret. "Surely they could not-"

"They've had him for thousands of years, Thor. Frozen like me, as far as I can tell. Enhanced so that he is the closest thing the thralls have to an actual Other. Broken and lifeless. Just… a shell." Steve's eyes began to glow. "My father taught me well, Thor. I can't save Bucky… but I can set him free."

Benjen tried to think of how he would handle it if it was his brother who had been captured by the Others and forced to become their unthinking weapon. 'Would I have the steel in my veins to take Ned's head? Would I be able to drive a sword through his heart? Or would I hesitate… hoping perhaps that I might find a way to bring him back?'

He honestly didn't know.

"That is why we are here," Steve said softly. "The Red Skull-"

"Who?"

"The Commander of the Others," Benjen supplied.

"…Red Skull. That is a better name for him."

Ygritte smirked at that. "I came up with it!" Steve rolled his eyes but playfully nudged her. Thor looked at the two of them and flashed a shit-eating grin that had Steven proving Others could blush. "Apparently," Ygritte said, not at all bothered by the attention, "he wants to capture the Dragon Queen."

"It would be dangerous if she were made into one of them," Thor admitted. "And that doesn't bode well for convincing my father to see reason." When the others stared at him Thor sighed. "He fears the events that are gripping Midgard. Thanos returning, rumbles of a soul escaping from the Hel that awaited it and returning to attack the living world, and other threats that, while smaller, when gathered together create a far more dangerous situation. He commanded the Bifrost closed and Asgard locked down while they saw to their own defenses. Loki, Jane, and myself were the only three that managed to escape back to Midgard, though I do not know where my beloved and my brother are. Perhaps the Warriors 3 and Lady Sif managed to sneak away but…"

He trailed off.

"So… we're on our own."

"Aye," Thor murmured. "We are."

They all fell silent.